A career based on your special interests?

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I'm developing an idea for an entrepreneurship program for people on the spectrum and am wondering how many people have a special interest that they think has market potential: either art/entertainment value or commercial value. For example, if you collect bottle caps, would you consider working with an artist to transform your collection into art? Or if you are obsessed with different types of paper, would you consider making artisanal paper to sell? Please share your ideas and interests.

Bottle cap art.

Thanks for sharing. This is an example of what could be possible. I think with the right environment and resources a lot of brilliant things/ideas could be explored.

That bottlecap art is beautiful.

My interest is a bit more boring to other people. Kids' books! So, I became a librarian and not sure I could recommend doing that as I think it requires a lot of interpersonal skills. One of these days, though, I would LOVE to write a picture book. The market is hard to get into, but it would be great just to try the challenge. Or a short novel!

rruh-rroh... I'm just finishing my first kids' book of the series and was about to start on the art for it... is it that hard to get into? I suppose I should PM you for more info there... sounds like you've started your homework before me.

I am a little pessimistic by nature.

I took children's literature courses a few years ago in library school that talked abut publishers and stuff. You would do well to research publishers, and get into contact with writing groups that are local. See what and whom gets published. Don't give up, though. The more you write, the better you get. After all, Kathy Stinson, who wrote the iconic Canadian classic 'red is best' had to go through many, many rejection letters. Above all, read what gets written too! There are lots of great books!

Tina

That sounds great. So do you like to collect children's books as well as write and illustrate them? How long has this been an interest for you?

Great to hear that people are pursuing their passions/interests. Do you do this full time or is it a side-project?

I haven't actually written one quite yet. My passion lies along the lines of reading them... used to be collecting them but I am an apartment dweller with no space anymore. I also love performing them for kids at story hours. I would love to write one. I know many of them back to front. i just need to know more about the likelihood of getting them published, and develop good contacts with publishers. I also need THAT idea that is amazing, the time to write and the knowledge that I am not going to lose my day job.

But I have plenty of hope, so BlueMax, i am impressed that you are doing that dream!

I think an entrepreneurship program for people on the spectrum is a wonderful idea. If you haven't already, I'd recommend that you check out businesses like Polly's Place (http://www.theautismtrust.com/) that feature products made by people with autism.

As for me, my main "special interest" actually happens to be autism itself. I'm about to begin working on my masters degree in Human Resource Management, and after a few years of working in HR to get a better feel for that area, my plan is to provide career counseling to adults with ASDs. Whether I'll do this through an existing company or on my own remains to be seen, but I definitely prefer the idea of working for myself.

Trying to use my time of unemployment and deep depression a little more productively... and filling the need of getting my kid to read by writing stories in his aspie special interest.
...not very productively though. My home is full of too many distractions and what SHOULD be a simple task is taking far too long from procrastination and lethargy.

I can do it... I know I have the physical skills/talents to draw and write... the stories are already there... I just have to DO it. *slaps self into motivation* [/fails]

i turned my obsession of computers and software and found success there. what's interesting is that the traditional corporate environment still couldn't accept me (i wrote recently about it here on "Mistakes" and how I can't seem to "Grow Up" which I find is a "good" thing) so I eventually found that the only boss that I could work with is, well, myself.

I became an entrepreneur.

I read the posts, very good writing.

Corporations, by their very nature, have become increasingly culturaly rigid. While Paul Graham is writing to a different audience ("programmers"), I think his advice on working for yourself is quite correct. He also appears to have no love or even respect for most major companies.

@agentpalpatine,

thank you for that! i appreciate that!

I'm looking to be an actuary because I have a BS in Applied Mathematics and I don't like dealing with too many different people.